GMs Pavel Eljanov and Wesley So scored separate victories in Board 1 & Board 2 against their respective co-leaders while the two other co-leaders at Board 3 settled for draw that resulted for the two to tie for the lead scoring 7.5/9 points going into the last round (R10).

Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine repulsed the higher rated GM Liren Ding of China in Bo.1 whereas the Philippines GM Wesley So dismantled Polish GM Dziuba Marcin Caro-Kann Defense in Bo.2 with a Queen sacrifice in exchange of a rook and bishop starting the 20th move that ended with a checkmate in move 41.

GM Wesley So ‘LIVE Rating’ after R9 had soared to 2701.4that breached for the first time the 2700 rating mark. According to his coach GM Susan Polgar @ Webster University, “Wesley So has become the 1st Filipino and American collegiate player to break the 2700 mark. It is a double achievement for Wesley!”